May Force Cities to Further Restrict Runoff from Construction and Development
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until March 21 on proposed changes to its general permit program for operators of municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s), which will ensure that cities are reducing pollutants in their runoff to the maximum extent practicable (MEP). The proposed rule addresses how small MS4s seek and incorporate public comment and agency reviews into their permits. The proposal would significantly change how cities obtain Clean Water Act (CWA) authorization to discharge stormwater from their systems and may force cities to further limit runoff from active construction sites and developed properties.
May Force Cities to Further Restrict Runoff from Construction and Development
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until March 21 on proposed changes to its general permit program for operators of municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s), which will ensure that cities are reducing pollutants in their runoff to the maximum extent practicable (MEP). The proposed rule addresses how small MS4s seek and incorporate public comment and agency reviews into their permits. The proposal would significantly change how cities obtain Clean Water Act (CWA) authorization to discharge stormwater from their systems and may force cities to further limit runoff from active construction sites and developed properties.
The House voted to halt the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agencys 'Waters of the US rulemaking redefining jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act and prevent the administration from issuing a substantially similar regulation. This vote follows the Senates approval of the same resolution in November. The measure now heads to the presidents desk, where it is expected to be vetoed. Unfortunately, it is unlikely either the House or Senate will have the votes needed to override the presidents veto. 腦瞳憫will continue to work with Congress and its industry allies to find a workable legislative solution to this rulemaking.
The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), in response to a request from the top Republican on the Senate Environment Committee, concluded that several aspects of the social media and grassroots campaign undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) around the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rulemaking violated provisions of the laws designed to protect against undue agency influence on the rulemaking process.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a new tool to assist small residential lot builders in developing their required stormwater pollution prevention plans, or SWPPP documents. The Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template is an optional tool designed to streamline SWPPP development and is fully compliant with the SWPPP requirements in EPAs Construction General Permit (CGP). EPA has invited states to modify the agencys new template, as needed, for use with their state CGPs.
As just announced by 腦瞳憫via its 2016 Environmental Rules Watch List, the construction industry can expect to see a wide range of regulatory action in the coming year, spanning the air, water and waste program areas. 腦瞳憫works with federal agency staff during the rulemaking process to ensure that the construction industrys voice is heard analyzing and expressing the industrys views on federal proposals to enact or modify laws that regulate contractors. 腦瞳憫created a handout to help you track the development of environmental rules throughout 2016 and even weigh in on issues that are important to you and your business.
Join Us in Denver on April 20, 2016
Are you an environmental professional working in-house at a construction firm? 腦瞳憫has organized a day of roundtable discussions specifically for you and your peers. Join us in Denver, CO on April 20, 2016, for a day of information sharing and collaboration. Seating is very limited for this meeting; please dont wait to act on this exclusive opportunity. Click here to register (construction firms only, please).
Join us on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC in October 2016
腦瞳憫will hold its fifth Contractors Environmental Conference (CEC) on October 5-6, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The CEC is a yearly management, leadership and technology-focused conference that zeros in on the most critical environmental issues impacting todays construction professionals. Past attendees agree that this one-of-a-kind program provides contractors with the information and resources to meet environmental requirements, sustainability initiatives, and remain competitive in the marketplace. Presentation proposals are being accepted online at www.agc.org/enviroCFP through March 1st.
For the first time in over a decade there is a long-term authorization of federal highway and transit programs in place following President Obama signing the five-year $302 billion Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act into law on December 4th. The FAST Act also addresses environmental streamlining and congestion mitigation and air quality two issues of interest to environmental professionals in the construction industry.
In the last full year of the Obama Administration, 腦瞳憫expects the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to take action on the several environmental rules/permits affecting the construction industry. Below is a list of the rules to watch and a handout with more details.